OPENING DAY’S OPTIMISM MAINTAINS ITS STRONG GRIP ON FANS AND PLAYERS

A little much? Hey, presidents of the United States don’t boot ceremonial kickoffs before the first game of an NFL season.

Before Monday’s game, the Citi Field public address announcer introduced not just the players and coaches but both teams’ entire staff.

Among the things we hear just once a year on this glorious happening:

As heard all around the clubhouse: “Happy Opening Day.”

And on the P.A.: “… the video coordinator Mike Tompkins.”

Monday was Mark Kotsay’s 16th Opening Day.

“You still get butterflies,” the Padres’ reserve outfielder said. “If you don’t get butterflies for Opening Day, you probably shouldn’t be wearing a uniform.”

Mostly, it’s a time of renewal.

Marty, the Citi Field usher, volunteered before the game how certain he was that the Mets were going to contend this season.

Asked if he said the same thing last year, before the Mets had their fourth straight non-winning season, he said, “Of course. It’s Opening Day.”

If you’re a member or fan of the Mets, a team not expected to be any better than the Padres, you get to bask for 48 hours in the hope provided by Jonathon Niese’s 6 1/3 strong innings in his first Opening Day start and by Collin Cowgill’s first career grand slam.

And afterward, if you’re the Padres, you cling to the fact there are so many games to play.

Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes and assistant GM A.J. Hinch rode an elevator to the ground floor of Citi Field with their daughters, who made the Big Apple trip.

“There’s always tomorrow,” one of Hinch’s daughters said.

The Padres are actually off today, but point is, as her dad quickly told her, that’s some good perspective.